Aachen
CHIO Aachen is under way and British combinations are already tasting success. One exciting name for your notebooks is the eight-year-old mare Times Kismet, who made a winning overseas debut with Charlotte Dujardin in the CDI* prix st georges. Charlotte hailed the Ampère mare as a future Olympic horse. “I’ve brought her up through the levels and I feel like I have that bond and partnership with her,” said Charlotte, riding for owner-breeder Peter Belshaw and Carl Hester. “We hold each other’s hand and that’s a magical feeling – moments like this are what I do this for. That I can put her in that sort of atmosphere and she feels secure.” Lottie Fry finished second in Wednesday’s CDI4* grand prix with Van Olst Horses’ Lars van de Hoenderheide, with more Brits in action today.
Catch up on all the latest Aachen news
Trailer warning
The owners of a trailer that “disintegrated” in transit, allowing their horse to fall out on to the road, are urging others to check their transport, to avoid a similar situation. Julie McMaster and her partner David Smilie were on their way back from a show last October when Julie’s horse Kalvin came out of their Equi-Trek. “All I could see was his leg hanging out of the back of the trailer. I jumped out and ran round, and it was horrific; his bum and back leg were right down on the road,” said Julie.
Read more about the incident and Equi-Trek’s full response
Selection puzzle
Mark Phillips muses on an unusual spring season, the challenges for the new British Eventing chief executive, and the puzzle selectors face in this week’s exclusive H&H column. “In normal times the judgement calls don’t seem too difficult, but there has been nothing normal about this season leading up to the European Eventing Championships at Haras du Pin in August,” says Mark, reflecting on the differences between Badminton, Bramham, Kentucky and Luhmühlen this year. “All these events have to be on the selectors’ “menu”. If anyone was hoping for a level playing field, they were out of luck! I guess that’s why we have selectors to make the judgement calls and not computers.”
You might also be interested in:
Subscribe to Horse & Hound this spring for great savings
‘I’ve always known she’s an Olympic horse’: Charlotte Dujardin’s ‘ballerina’ ride makes headway with Aachen win
Lifetime ban for woman who failed to care for 131 horses after judge dismisses appeal
Get your Royal International Horse Show tickets
Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.
